As music awards go the Mercury Prize is an odd one. Regarded as more prestigious and in-inverted-commas-please "critical" than it's rivals, the more populist Brits and the more muso or chin-stroke friendly Ivor Novellos, it certainly doesn't do any harm to an artist to be nominated or indeed win it in the short term. Though past winners have gone on to have varying degrees of success - post-awards (anyone seen Talvin Singh recently?).
Neither Oasis and Blur have ever won, both being nominated but overlooked and lest we forget the time when M People beat Damon and co., Pulp and The Prodigy to the winners podium in 1994. Still, it's lovably unpredictable and always more interesting to check out as the Mercury rules allows nominations from the classical, jazz and folk worlds.
So what are the chances of a leftfield winner in 2009? Non-likely some might think as Kasabian have been talked of for West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum (somewhat modestly tipping themselves for it aswell), too populist though perhaps? La Roux might be a compromise with her critically loved but with mass appeal 80s influenced sound.
Florence and the Machine are likely to be in the running given their stunning live performances and lauded debut and Doves are seen by many as a band who like last year's well received winner's Elbow have plied their time delivering a widescreen take on post-industrial Britain with Kingdom Of Rust, picking up where Elbow left off though perhaps somewhat too similarly?
Either way, it's sure to make for some interesting discussion. Mercury Prize 2009 nominations will be posted here as they're announced. In the meantime here's a couple of Q staff picks:
Simon McEwen - Managing Editor
The Bug's album London Zoo on the "outsider tip". It's a thrilling state-of-the-capital address which brilliantly escorts ragga, grime, dubstep and electro into new areas.
Matt Yates - Senior Copy/Books/Music/DVD Editor
The Horrors - Primary Colours No one saw this coming - the much-mocked Southend goths engineered a brilliant turnaround on album number two.
Mercury Prize 2009 nominations.
Who would you like to win? Tell us below!
10:13 AM | 21/07/2009
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I really hope friendly fires don't win. there is too much of this really bad disco/indie around and most is awful. So that also rules out La Roux in my eyes. Last year I was listening to the demos of Glasvegas, and after hearing a few I told my fiancee they would be nominated and possibly win the prize (based on the demos). the album is so beautiful and powerful, full of real emotion with 50's inspired rock 'n' roll and plenty of dark/atmospheric moments that make it rather unique.
Posted by Nigel at 8:20 PM | 07/09/2009 | Report Abuse
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